Happy Birthday Jake!

So, Friday was the big guys birthday.  We had a relaxing morning of watching cartoons and movies.  Then, we met Brooke on base for lunch.  Jake picked Bumblebee's...a sort of fresh mex place.  After lunch, we went home and Jake crashed on the couch.  When Brooke got home, we asked Jake where he wanted to go to dinner.  He said Red Lobster, which we were pretty excited about.  Well, Chuck-e-cheese happens to be RIGHT next door to Red Lobster, so when Jake saw that, he quickly changed his mind.  He had a great time...more fun than he would have had at Red Lobster :).  After dinner we headed back home to open presents and have cake.  The whole day was fun.  

The cake didn't turn out exactly like I wanted it to, but thanks to some help from Brooke, it looked pretty good and Jake liked it.

Here are a few shots from dinner.  He would get halfway through one game and be distracted by another one he wanted to play.  

We got him this t-ball set.  Saturday we took it to the park and he got to hit a few balls.  He even shared his new toy with some kids that were there.  What a sweet guy!

And here he is opening all his presents.  This is one spoiled kid!  Or as my mom would say, "he is just loved alot"

3 months

It is hard to believe our little girl is already 3 months old.  Here are a few new pictures of her.

a little sad :(

Today Brooke left on a little trip for work.  He gets to go to an airshow...and in Washington!  We will miss him while he is gone, but I'm sure he will have a fun time.  Last night as he was packing, he tried to talk Jake into coming along in one of his bags.  I think Jake would have loved to go with him, but maybe not in the bag.

And here are a few shots of Gracie in her new Bumbo chair.  She likes it in doses, but she does like it.  I was really pumped about the great price i got it for, but the day after I got it, I saw it at a garage sale for 5 bucks less.  oh well.  

Earlier this week, we all wondered out back after we ate dinner.  Our backyard is nicely shaded in the evening, so it is a great time to hangout outside.

I don't think Gracie liked the grass very much

another week gone by...

On Monday, we went to the new Rio Rancho Aquatic Center.  We knew Jake would have fun, but we didn't realize how much fun he would have.  It is an indoor pool, but Brooke said it was a little chilly.  After a while I could tell that Jake was getting cold. (The blue lips were a dead give away)  But he kept saying he wanted to stay "just a little bit longer".  I signed him up for swimming lessons in August.  No doubt he will have fun with that!

Jake having fun with pretzels.  

Grace loves sitting in her boppy pillow.  If you prop her up and sit by her, she is happy and content.  One morning I had her in the boppy and Jake went and got a duck "for her to play with".

Speaking of how she likes to sit up, the other day i found someone selling a bumbo chair on craigs list.  It was only $15, compared to the $40 it sells new, so i called the lady and got it.  Brooke actually picked it up last night, so we will see how gracie likes it.  Pictures of that will come shortly :).

Fun on the 4th

Happy 4th of July (2 days late)!  We hope everyone enjoyed the holiday and time with friends and family.  Our day was great...we started the day with a squirt gun fight in the back yard.  Jake got his first squirt gun last week as a bribe for him to go pee at Target. (he doesn't like using toilets that aren't ours...but he is getting better)  Then we bought a few more so he wouldn't be the only one armed.  

Our ward had a bbq at a local park, so we headed out there for some lunch.  In the late afternoon, we went to the base and ate at Brooke's boss's house.  It was  a fun time...they have a big back yard, so there was a woofle ball game going on and later a hot dog eating contest.

On our way home, we stopped and watched the Rio Rancho fireworks display.  It was a good show and we were able to find a spot in a neighborhood to watch it so we didn't have to deal with crowds.  Jake was excited to see the fireworks and enjoyed watching them from the car, but once we were situated on our camping chairs, he informed us that he was done and wanted to go home.  It was a bit too noisy for him. 

It was a great day and we have had a nice weekend together.  Brooke also has tomorrow off, so we get to play some more together.  

And here is Grace looking all cute in her festive outfit.  She smiles a ton and loves to talk to anyone who will listen.  Yesterday Brooke got her close to a laugh.  He took some video of it,  so i will see about posting that.  

2 months

I've been wanting to post some more pictures for a while, but i didn't get a chance to take any until today...so sorry to all those anxious to see updated pictures of Grace.  She had her 2 month check-up on Monday and she is a healthy GROWING girl.  She weighed in at 11 lbs. 9 oz. and is almost 24" long.  She is a happy little baby and it doesn't take much to get her to flash her gummy grin at you.  Jake continues to be a fabulous big brother, always giving her kisses and helping me when he can.  We are very blessed!!  I couldn't decide which pictures to post, so i did all my favorites.  I think she gets cuter every day.

Things are going good with Jake as well.  He is doing great with his potty training and seems so much older all the sudden.  only 1 month until he turns 3...how time flies!  I'm sure one day he won't appreciate this next picture, but i thought it was too funny.

A couple weeks ago i made some cinnamon rolls and Jake volunteered to clean the beaters after i made the frosting.  Like I said...always willing to help. :)

oh so hap-pee

This week we have been sticking around the house.  Monday Jake wasn't feeling very good, so he rested on the couch most of the day.  Tuesday he was feeling much better, so i decided there was no time like the present to begin tackling the task of...POTTY TRAINING.  Day 1 proved to be quite messy.  4 wet messes to clean up.  Jake didn't like this new feeling of going pee in his new underwear, so we spent most of the afternoon (at his request) sitting in the bathroom, him on the toilet, me on a chair.  We talked and sang songs.  The most requested song...Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple (Thankyou Guitar Hero!).  So, Day 1 ended and i was wondering how long i would be cleaning up these messes.  Day 2.  One accident in the morning, but this one was on the tile floor, so not that much of a biggie.  After his nap, he told me he had to go pee.  Off we went to the bathroom.  i didn't get my hopes up because this was nothing new.  But, this time when he sat on the toilet, he did it!  I was so excited...probably more excited than him.  This morning, success again and just before his nap, he went pee and poop.  I know he may have a few slip ups, but i am glad to be on my way to having a potty trained toddler.  

And here are a few new shots of Gracie.  She is getting big, we think around 11 lbs.  It is fun to get her dressed up and looking cute.  She is also smiling more, which is so fun.  She is still a good baby and we are having a great time with her.

The other day Jake was being so helpful, I thought I would snap a few photos.  He is always ready and willing to run little things we give him to the garbage.

When it is cleaning day, he likes to follow me around and help where he can.  Cleaning the toilet is his favorite.  I'm sure this will eventually wear off and i will think back to the time when he was eager to help.

He is always wanting to help in the kitchen, stirring things or just watching me get things ready for dinner.